Hart Borough Council
Councillors:
33
Wards:
11
Committees:
14
Meetings (2025):
60
Meetings (2024):
60
Meeting
Licensing Committee - Hart
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Tuesday, 22nd October 2024
7:00 PM
Tuesday, 22nd October 2024
7:00 PM
End:
Tuesday, 22nd October 2024
11:00 PM
Tuesday, 22nd October 2024
11:00 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
22 Oct 2024
22 Oct 2024
Location:
Council Chamber
Council Chamber
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Head of Environmental & Community Services (Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council)
Tom Payne
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
In attendance
Officer
Environmental Health & Licensing Contract Manager
Neil Hince
In attendance
Officer
Committee and Member Services Manager
Sharon Black
Democratic Services
In attendance
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Regulatory
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Community Services
Committee Member
Portfolio Holder - Digital and Communications
Officer
Shared Legal Services
Louise Misselbrook
In attendance
Officer
Licensing Team Leader, Shared Licensing Services
Emma Coles
In attendance
Officer
Executive Director - Place
Mark Jaggard
In attendance
Agenda
1
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 July 2024 (copy attached) as a correct record of the proceedings.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of Previous Meeting 14 Oct 2024
Minutes
The minutes of 3 July 2024 were agreed and signed as a correct record.
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke Seconded by: Cllr Dorn Unanimously agreed.
Proposed by: Cllr Clarke Seconded by: Cllr Dorn Unanimously agreed.
2
Apologies for Absence
To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.
Minutes
Apologies had been received from Cllrs Axam, Vernon and Woods.
3
Declarations of Interest
To declare disclosable pecuniary, and any other, interests*.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.
*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest made.
4
Chair's Announcements
Minutes
The Chair had no announcements.
5
Taxi Licensing Services - Fees and Charges
To consider the fees and charges for taxi licensing services relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators.
Recommendation
The Licensing Committee is recommended to:
· agree the 2025/26 fees and charges relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operator's licences.
· agree that the proposed fees and charges will go to public consultation in accordance with the process set out in section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (The Act).
· authorise the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
Recommendation
The Licensing Committee is recommended to:
· agree the 2025/26 fees and charges relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operator's licences.
· agree that the proposed fees and charges will go to public consultation in accordance with the process set out in section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (The Act).
· authorise the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it is published.
Attachments:
- Document Taxi Licensing Services - Fees and Charges Report 14 Oct 2024
- Document Appendix to report 14 Oct 2024
Minutes
This item was to consider the fees and charges for taxi licensing services relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators.
Cllr Forster declared a non-pecuniary, non-prejudicial interest in this item in that he was involved in a business supplying ultra rapid EV charging points.
Members heard:
The DBS service had advised that charges would be increased to £49.50 from 1 December 2024. These were recharged to Hart at cost by Basingstoke and Deane. Fees and charges relating to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to remain the same for 2025/26 to help support the trade Both the wheelchair accessible vehicle fee and electrical vehicle fee of 0% were due to expire in 2025 unless proposals were agreed to extend these Drivers’ and operators’ fees had been increased by 3%
Members discussed:
The number of wheelchair accessible and electric vehicles in Hart Why the increase had been set at 3% Why the renewal fee for drivers had been frozen That it would be useful to have the schedule show which of the fees had been increased by central Government and which had been increased by Hart Why some of the increases did not exactly equate to 3% Whether an additional incentive for drivers/operators of wheelchair accessible vehicles could be offered The ability of private hire drivers/operators to work across district borders, whilst hackney carriages were limited to the district they were registered in The merits of extending the 100% discount on the fee for electric vehicles for a period of two years, against reviewing it annually
Cllr Farmer proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for electric vehicles for a further two years. Seconded by Cllr Dorn. A recorded vote was held:
For: Coburn; Dorn; Farmer; Forster (4)
Against: Butler; Clarke; Harward; Jones; Smith; Thomas (6)
Abstain: none
The proposed amendment to the policy was defeated.
Cllr Smith proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for electric vehicles for a further 1 year. Seconded by Cllr Jones.
The proposed amendment to the policy was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Forster proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for wheelchair accessible vehicles for a further 5 years. Seconded by Cllr Dorn.
The proposed amendment to the policy was agreed unanimously.
The amended fees and charges recommendation as discussed was proposed by Cllr Dorn and seconded by Cllr Clarke and was agreed unanimously.
In closing this item, it was noted that the guide on the website on becoming a taxi driver required updating.
Decision
The Licensing Committee agreed:
· the 2025/26 amended fees and charges relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators’ licences.
· that the proposed amended fees and charges would go to public consultation in accordance with the process set out in section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (The Act).
that the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it was published.
Cllr Forster declared a non-pecuniary, non-prejudicial interest in this item in that he was involved in a business supplying ultra rapid EV charging points.
Members heard:
The DBS service had advised that charges would be increased to £49.50 from 1 December 2024. These were recharged to Hart at cost by Basingstoke and Deane. Fees and charges relating to hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to remain the same for 2025/26 to help support the trade Both the wheelchair accessible vehicle fee and electrical vehicle fee of 0% were due to expire in 2025 unless proposals were agreed to extend these Drivers’ and operators’ fees had been increased by 3%
Members discussed:
The number of wheelchair accessible and electric vehicles in Hart Why the increase had been set at 3% Why the renewal fee for drivers had been frozen That it would be useful to have the schedule show which of the fees had been increased by central Government and which had been increased by Hart Why some of the increases did not exactly equate to 3% Whether an additional incentive for drivers/operators of wheelchair accessible vehicles could be offered The ability of private hire drivers/operators to work across district borders, whilst hackney carriages were limited to the district they were registered in The merits of extending the 100% discount on the fee for electric vehicles for a period of two years, against reviewing it annually
Cllr Farmer proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for electric vehicles for a further two years. Seconded by Cllr Dorn. A recorded vote was held:
For: Coburn; Dorn; Farmer; Forster (4)
Against: Butler; Clarke; Harward; Jones; Smith; Thomas (6)
Abstain: none
The proposed amendment to the policy was defeated.
Cllr Smith proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for electric vehicles for a further 1 year. Seconded by Cllr Jones.
The proposed amendment to the policy was agreed unanimously.
Cllr Forster proposed an amendment to extend the discount of 100% on the fee for wheelchair accessible vehicles for a further 5 years. Seconded by Cllr Dorn.
The proposed amendment to the policy was agreed unanimously.
The amended fees and charges recommendation as discussed was proposed by Cllr Dorn and seconded by Cllr Clarke and was agreed unanimously.
In closing this item, it was noted that the guide on the website on becoming a taxi driver required updating.
Decision
The Licensing Committee agreed:
· the 2025/26 amended fees and charges relating to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators’ licences.
· that the proposed amended fees and charges would go to public consultation in accordance with the process set out in section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 (The Act).
that the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the policy before it was published.
6
Draft Sex Establishments Policy for Consultation
This report provides information required to make a decision to approve a revised Sex Establishments Policy and conditions for consultation.
Recommendation:
The Licensing Committee is recommended to:
· approve the draft Sex Establishments Policy for consultation, as set out in Appendix A, and
· authorise the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the Policy before it is published.
Recommendation:
The Licensing Committee is recommended to:
· approve the draft Sex Establishments Policy for consultation, as set out in Appendix A, and
· authorise the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the Policy before it is published.
Attachments:
- Document Draft Sex Establishments Policy for Consulttion - Report 14 Oct 2024
- Document Appendix - Draft Sex Establishments Policy 2024 14 Oct 2024
Minutes
This report provided information required to make a decision to approve a revised Sex Establishments Policy and conditions for consultation.
Members heard:
Hart did not have any sex establishments and there was little risk of gaining one There were three different types of sex establishments The legislation around opening a sex establishment was very prescriptive That the policy if agreed would go out to consultation and return to the next meeting of the Committee for final approval
Members discussed:
Whether the 12 week consultation period was statutory How the policy related to the Corporate Plan How much officer time it had taken to produce the Policy That although it was a shared policy with Basingstoke, there would be small differences in each authority’s policy as the Committee could amend the parts relating to Hart, and Basingstoke’s Licensing Committee could amend the parts relating to Basingstoke and Deane
Proposed by Cllr Butler; seconded by Cllr Jones. Agreed unanimously.
Decision
The Licensing Committee:
· agreed the draft Sex Establishments Policy for consultation, as set out in Appendix A, and
authorised the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the Policy before it was published.
Members heard:
Hart did not have any sex establishments and there was little risk of gaining one There were three different types of sex establishments The legislation around opening a sex establishment was very prescriptive That the policy if agreed would go out to consultation and return to the next meeting of the Committee for final approval
Members discussed:
Whether the 12 week consultation period was statutory How the policy related to the Corporate Plan How much officer time it had taken to produce the Policy That although it was a shared policy with Basingstoke, there would be small differences in each authority’s policy as the Committee could amend the parts relating to Hart, and Basingstoke’s Licensing Committee could amend the parts relating to Basingstoke and Deane
Proposed by Cllr Butler; seconded by Cllr Jones. Agreed unanimously.
Decision
The Licensing Committee:
· agreed the draft Sex Establishments Policy for consultation, as set out in Appendix A, and
authorised the Executive Director – Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any necessary minor alterations / typographical corrections to the Policy before it was published.
Previous Meetings
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